North Korea Says Prisoner Won't Be Used As Leverage

North Korea Says Prisoner Won’t Be Used As Leverage

Though the title leads readers to believe that the article is solely about the prisoner, author Choe Sang-Hun focuses on the tensions between North Korea and the US. Sang-Hun makes use of many quotations to establish points of view from North Korea, which is normally very isolated. This catches his readers’ attentions since North Korea is often very closed off from the rest of the world in terms of communication. He references previous Presidents who met with North Korean leaders in order to free prisoners, establishing the fact that this time things are different and a quick fix might not be in the near future. He makes the tension between the two nations conspicuous when writing, “During his trial, Mr. Bae confessed and admitted his crimes, the North said, according to the state news media.” Here Sang-Hun puts in his own beliefs very subtly. Sang-Hun is skeptical about Mr. Bae’s trial and his confession since the only perspective we have is from the North Korean media, which is obviously monitored by the government. Sang-Hun leaves the conclusion inconclusive, establishing the fact that the tensions between the US and North Korea are unresolved and the future for the two nations is very unpredictable.    

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/06/world/asia/north-korea-says-kenneth-bae-isnt-a-bargaining-chip.html?ref=world